Comic Rik Mayall suffered an “acute cardiac event” after returning from a morning run, his widow has said.

Barbara Mayall said her family had received “thousands and thousands of messages of condolence” from around the world.

“We always knew that Rik was well loved but we are all overwhelmed by so many joining us in our grief,” she said.

“We now know that our darling Rik suffered an acute cardiac event at our home around midday on June 9.”

The actor had just returned from his usual run and many people had seen him that morning, she said.

Mayall thanked the press “for their discretion” and “all the wonderful coverage”, adding: “It would have made him very happy.”

She added: “I am sure that you all know Rik’s response would be something along the lines of…..’ well thanks very much all of you………….now f*** off!!!’.”

Earlier, West London Coroner’s Court said a post-mortem examination into Mayall’s death had been inconclusive and more tests were being carried out in an attempt to determine how the 56-year-old star died.

Mayall, who shot to fame playing poetry-writing anarchist Rick in The Young Ones, was found dead at his London home on Monday.

His career, which also included roles such as Lord Flashheart in Blackadder and the conniving Conservative MP Alan B’Stard in The New Statesman, stretched back to the start of the alternative comedy scene.